Almanac

Crime news: Man robbed at knifepoint in park

If you go walking after midnight, keep an eye out. Late Wednesday night, Nov. 7, two men robbed a third who was strolling through Jack Lyle Park in Menlo Park.

Brandishing a knife, the two men demanded the 24-year-old victim hand over his property. They escaped with cash and an iPhone.

Police were called to the park at 1060 Middle Ave. shortly after midnight. They described the suspects as two white men in their 20s. One stood about 6 feet tall, with a thin build and brown hair. He wore a long, baggy black winter jacket with dark pants. The other, described as a heavy-set man with brown hair, wore a dirty beige T-shirt with a graphic design and jeans.

Anyone with information on the robbery may call Officer Jeff Vasquez at 330-6300 or call the anonymous tip line at 330-6395.

Kidnap attempt?

That's not the only crime keeping investigators busy investigating. Police are still working on a possible attempted kidnapping.

A woman pulled up to a West Menlo Park home on Nov. 3 and asked a 5-year-old boy to get in a minivan to go to her house for Halloween candy, the boy's mother told police.

Saying no, the boy backed away from the car, according to his mother. The stranger drove off as the mother walked out of the Oakley Avenue house.

The van, described as a very old faded light blue, headed towards Cloud Avenue. Witnesses said a car seat possibly holding a toddler was also in the van.

The parent called police around 10:17 a.m., within minutes after the van drove away, and also told neighbors about the incident. The Sheriff's Office, which turned out to have jurisdiction over the area, described the suspect as a middle-age Hispanic or Asian woman with short black hair and wearing a gray shirt.

Some Menlo Park schools were on alert, according to Menlo Park City School District Superintendent Maurice Ghysels, since the incident happened near several campuses.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at 363-4911 or leave an anonymous tip at 1-800-547-2700.